The dispute arose over Factle’s unauthorized distribution of mapping products incorporating a neighborhood database purchased by Maponics in an asset acquisition.  After Wahl and Factle repeatedly violated contractual terms and made misrepresentations in the marketplace, Maponics sought to enforce its ownership rights, including copyright protection of the database.

While innovative at the time, most of that original database has passed into obsolescence, and now represents only a tiny fraction of the neighborhood product sold by Maponics.

Pursuant to the settlement, Factle paid Maponics a cash amount and promised to refrain from making advertising claims or statements of any kind about Maponics for a period of two years.

“Some commentators mistakenly tried to make this out to be a fight between a valiant defender of public data (Wahl) vs. a corporation claiming to ‘own your neighborhood’,” said Maponics’ attorney George Frost.  “Rubbish.  In our view, this was an open and shut case of one corporation (Factle) distributing another’s (Maponics) data product without permission to do so.”

Factle customers: Call or email Maponics at 800.762.5158 or info@maponics.com for an upgrade to your old neighborhood database.

Through a network of real estate brokers, Roost offers a comprehensive search engine for potential homebuyers. According to Roost the addition of Maponics data will “deliver an easy and intuitive way for homebuyers to zero in on areas of interest”. Roost users will now be able pin point their searches by neighborhood in over 1000 US cities. Read the Roost press release for more info or visit roost.com!

They’ve got a great business model and aren’t just talking the talk – they hold local events themselves, and are really committed to their own neighborhoods. Sign up for their newsletter and keep an eye on these guys – they may be coming to your neighborhood next!

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